Review - The Iron Knight (Book 4 in the Iron Fey Series) by Julie Kagawa

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her
irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can  survive.


With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice. (NetGalley)



When it comes to world building, Julie Kagawa is amaze!! Reading her books is like being Alice in Wonderland.  I step into another world dazed with wonder and excitement.  Kagawa never fails to awe me with her vivid imagination.  I loved reading the Iron Fey series because, like Meghan Chase, I fell in love with the Nevernever.

The Iron Knight is the story of Ash's quest to find a soul.  In the end of The Iron Queen, Ash promised Meghan that he would find a way to be with her, and the final book in the series takes us along with him, Puck, and Grimalkin on his journey to do so.  Written in Ash's perspective, The Iron Knight was a refreshing read.  I finally got to understand the inner workings of the winter prince and I was not disappointed.  I may have been team Puck for the first book and gradually switched sides during the series, but The Iron Knight sealed the deal.  Team Ash all the way!

This journey was probably the most dangerous and anxiety-inducing one in the series.  I often found myself nervous for all of the characters involved, including the couple of new characters I was introduced to.  Kagawa kept me entertained with the new world she created in the Nevernever and I also learned what happens to Fey when they do not keep their promises.  This book was also the most somber one.  If you've read the other books in the series, you know what Ash is like, and this book reflected his dark personality.  We see him struggle with his past, his present, and his future and his journey to find a soul becomes one in which he must choose his destiny.  Ash learns what it really means to become human, and he must decide whether or not that future is the best option, not only for himself, but for Meghan as well.

I highly enjoyed going on this journey with Ash and seeing where the end of the series takes you.  But as much as I loved reading Ash's story, I did miss Meghan's presence.  Don't get me wrong.  Meghan is still very present in this book, but I missed her presence in the journey with Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin.  It felt different without her.  I missed her, the way you'd miss a friend when they were out of town and couldn't hang out.  The Iron Queen is definitely still my fave of the series, but I still loved the Iron Knight and was happy with the way it ended.  It was sad to see the end of the series, but I was glad to be a part of it.  Thank you Julie Kagawa for writing such a beautiful story!


Review by: Mary Munar
4.5 out of 5 Sparkling Stars


Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HarlequinTeen
Pub Date: 10/25/2011
ISBN: 9780373210367


Julie Kagawa's Official Site


HarlequinTEEN Official Site


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Iron Fey Series (Books 1 - 3) Trailer